Chapter 1168: Can't Cover It Up

"What do you mean by it hasn't completely calmed down yet?"

"It's because a portion of the group caught for making trouble hasn't been released yet. I heard people say that for a period of time, people still went to the door of the border defense station to cry from time to time. However, everyone who ran over to make trouble was also detained together, so it has only calmed down recently."

Ye Yaodong shook his head and didn't ask anymore.

"Alright, let's not mention this matter since it has nothing to do with us now. The more you mention it, the more scared you get. If you have nothing to do, grab a handful of rice bran to feed the chickens, and then drive all the chickens back into the cage. Take the opportunity to catch one and tie it up. Once I finish stir-frying, it'll be just right to boil water to smear it and remove the hair."

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong put down his chopsticks, went to the courtyard, and took a small, rusty iron bowl with a broken mouth from the window. This was specifically for holding rice bran to feed the chickens.

He went into the room and grabbed a large handful of rice bran, went outside the courtyard, and knocked on the iron bowl a few times. Those chickens immediately flew back, swaying.

The old lady was probably chanting scriptures in the room after burning incense, so she came out slowly at this moment.

"Eh? Why are you feeding the chickens here? Hurry into the room and lie down to rest for a while. Why are you doing work as soon as you get back? Let me, let me... You go lie down for a while, you've been tired all day, let me catch it."

Ye Yaodong let her be, only giving her one instruction: don't kill it yet, wait until Aqing finishes stir-frying and the hot water is boiled. The hot water in the two round holes on the stove isn't hot enough to scald a chicken.

The old lady hurriedly indicated she knew, already holding a small handful of rice straw in her hand, just waiting to catch the chicken and tie its wings.

He went back into the room to call Ye Xiaoxi.

"Ye Xiaojiu, hurry up and go drive your ducks back to the nest."

"Ah, have to go." Ye Xiaoxi turned her head to look, then lowered her head, focusing on playing with the doll in her hand.

Ye Chenghu didn't even raise his head, "No, this is your job."

Ye Chengyang also hurriedly said, "My job is herding sheep, you guys go."

"Fine, very good. None of the three of you will do it, then there's no need to keep them; kill them all and eat the meat."

The three siblings turned their heads to look at him in terror instantly.

Ye Xiaoxi immediately wailed, "No, don't kill, scared, Dad is a monster... you are a monster..."

Ye Chengyang hurriedly hid behind Ye Chenghu, eyes wide, looking at Ye Yaodong vigilantly.

How could Ye Chenghu let him hide? The two brothers pulled and tugged.

"What are you doing? Don't..."

"Brother..."

"What are you doing..."

"Hide..."

Ye Yaodong looked at the three siblings pulling and tugging, bewildered. He didn't understand why they were suddenly so scared, and were running around the room like headless flies, hiding east and west.

"What are you doing? What are you hiding from?"

"Ah~"

The three scattered like birds and beasts, instantly hiding in their ideal places. Toys were thrown all over the bed; no one dared to pick them up, and they couldn't care less.

Ye Yaodong watched as one hid inside the wardrobe, another crawled under the bed, and the silly one, Ye Xiaoxi, pulled the thin quilt on the bed to cover her head, with half her body still lying on the edge of the bed, her butt sticking up.

Did she think that by covering her head, he couldn't see her?

Speechless.

He stepped forward and patted Ye Xiaoxi's little butt exposed outside, "Do you think that by covering your head, I can't see you?"

She covered her head herself, couldn't see others, and thought others couldn't see her either.

Ye Xiaoxi's two feet kept jumping, holding the quilt tightly, her body shaking like a sieve, "Ah~ the monster is here~ don't kill me, I don't taste good..."

The corners of his mouth twitched, and he immediately understood. These three idiots thought he was going to kill them to eat meat.

"Aqing... Aqing..."

"What's wrong? The vegetables aren't finished cooking yet, what are you calling for?" Lin Xiuqing was still holding a knife in her hand, and a half-peeled loofah in the other, "What's going on?"

"Look at the three idiots you gave birth to."

Hearing Lin Xiuqing's voice, the three children seemed to find a sense of security, crawled out of their hiding places one after another, and then hurriedly hid behind her.

Lin Xiuqing was bewildered, "What are you doing? Hide and seek?"

Ye Chengyang accused loudly, "Dad said he was going to kill us to eat meat."

Looking at the knife in Lin Xiuqing's hand, Ye Chenghu was stunned, "Mother, are you also going to kill us to eat meat? I knew I was picked up... wuwuwu..."

Ye Chengyang and Ye Xiaoxi, who were originally hiding behind Lin Xiuqing, also raised their heads one after another, looking at the knife in Lin Xiuqing's hand in terror, scared to the point of retreating two more steps, and then followed by crying loudly.

"Don't kill me..."

"What..."

Their series of reactions only took a few seconds. Lin Xiuqing's brain hadn't even turned around yet, why did they say Ye Yaodong was going to kill them to eat meat.

Now, all of a sudden, they were saying she was going to kill them to eat meat? Crying so miserably.

The old lady also heard the earth-shaking crying in the room and ran in nervously, "What's wrong? What's wrong? Why are all three crying together? Did you fight?"

The three little ones immediately hid behind the old lady with tears streaming down their faces.

Ye Yaodong couldn't hold it anymore and laughed out loud.

"How did I give birth to these three idiots?"

Lin Xiuqing also looked at them speechlessly, "What did you do? Why did they say you were going to kill them to eat meat? You scared me, and when I ran in, they said I was going to kill them to eat meat?"

The old lady also listened with a face full of confusion and incomprehension.

"No, I just came in to tell your daughter to go out and drive the ducks, but the three of them pushed each other, and none of them wanted to go, so I said since none of them wanted to do it, then there's no need to keep them, kill them and eat meat. They probably understood it as, none of the three of them should be kept, kill them and eat meat."

Ye Chenghu suddenly realized, "Dad, you were talking about killing ducks? You scared me..."

Ye Chengyang and Ye Xiaoxi also stopped crying, looking at him with teary eyes.

"If I don't kill ducks, do you think I'd kill you? Do you have duck meat to nourish?"

"Young boys and girls are also very nourishing..."

"Watched too many TV dramas during summer vacation?" Ye Yaodong looked at them speechlessly. They were all harmed by TV dramas.

"The two younger ones are ignorant, that's fine, but you, who are already in school, are still so stupid. How did I give birth to such an idiot? Your comprehension is so poor, and your imagination is so rich."

Lin Xiuqing glared at the one big and three small ones unhappily. None of them were smart.

She continued to take the knife and loofah outside. She had just peeled half of it; I reckon the loofah in the pot was already cooked, and there was still half left that hadn't been put into the pot, delaying her from cooking dinner.

Ye Yaodong didn't want to play with the three idiots either and followed her out.

The old lady happily took them and walked to the bed again, letting them continue playing with toys. They also hurriedly wiped away their tears, still muttering in their mouths that it was clearly their father who didn't explain clearly.

"What are you cooking?"

After he walked out, he followed Lin Xiuqing step by step. Taking advantage of the fact that the old lady hadn't come out, he rested his head on her shoulder, watching the boiling water bubbling in the pot.

"Loofah and clam soup, and put in a handful of dried shrimp. They all love to eat dried shrimp. You go help me pull two green onions and bring them in."

"Is it time to eat once the soup is cooked?"

"Wait a moment. The fishing boats rented out from home should be back soon. Just when you came back, I instructed the boy receiving goods in the workshop to let them leave a little fresh fish, shrimp, and crab; otherwise, there's no fresh fish or shrimp at home. Since you're back, of course, we have to make a few more fresh dishes."

"It doesn't matter. I was already full just now, so I can't eat much even if I eat again. It's a waste if it's left over and can't be eaten."

Ye Yaodong rubbed against her neck, making her itch unbearably. She shrank her neck and giggled softly several times.

"Don't mess around, it's very itchy, don't rub anymore. Dad will definitely want to drink, it's just right to leave some seafood to go with the wine. You hurry up and pull the green onions, the pot is boiling."

He stuck out his tongue and licked her neck once, then went to pull the green onions.

Lin Xiuqing turned her head and glared at his back reproachfully, and reached out to wipe the saliva off her neck.

Afraid that he would make trouble by her side again, after pulling the green onions, Lin Xiuqing directed him to drive the ducks back.

Ye Yaodong, of course, followed every instruction.

As the saying goes, a small separation is better than a new marriage. He hadn't been home for a month or two, so whatever his wife asked him to do, he would do it.

Whatever she asked him to do now, he would obediently do it. When he asked her to do something at night, she would also have to obediently follow.

After doing what was ordered, he continued to wander around her, helping her while asking about the harvest situation of the Fengshou and the fishing boats at home over the past month.

Ye Fu and Ye Mu waited until it was almost time for dinner, and Ye Yaodong spent 5 cents to have the two brothers, Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang, fight to call them back.

Originally, the two brothers were pushing back and forth as usual, neither wanting to move, both thinking about playing with new toys. Once they heard there was a running fee, they scrambled to run and call people.

Not having been home for a month, Ye Yaodong also tried every way to give them money to spend.

"Teaching them like this, they'll be spoiled by you, and they won't be easy to order around later."

The old lady hurriedly helped him explain, "Dongzi just hasn't been home for too long. He's just back and is closer to the children, wanting to give them pocket money to buy things to eat."

"What's not easy to order around? If they're not easy to order around, just beat them up. There's nothing that can't be solved by a beating. If one beating doesn't make them obedient, just beat them a few more times. They'll always be honest for a few days after being beaten."

"You say it simply, how many times have you beaten them?"

"You just do it. They say a merciful mother spoils her son, which means a mother can't be too good to the children; the mother has to do it."

"You're just arguing..."

Ye Chenghu ran back quickly from outside, "Dad, they are talking to someone, saying they'll be over in a while."

Ye Yaodong touched his pocket and gave him 5 cents, and also gave 5 cents to Yangyang, who was lagging behind.

Ye Chengyang was overjoyed. He had received 5 cents earlier, and now he received another 5 cents. He had 10 cents. The key was that it was 5 cents more than his brother.

"They didn't go back at all? Or were they stopped by someone on the way over?"

Lin Xiuqing smiled and said, "Wait until they come over, look at whether the clothes Dad is wearing are the same set he came back in, and you'll know."

Ye Chenghu immediately said, "My grandpa is still wearing rain boots."

"That means they haven't gone home yet, and are bragging blindly on the road."

Ye Chengyang interjected, "Dad, they said you're an official now, and you have to be called Chairman Ye later!"

"Mm."

He touched his pocket, there were no more coins, so he took a 10-cent note and gave it to Ye Chengyang, "Reward for you!"

Ye Chengyang jumped three feet high with joy, "I have two... I have money again..."

"Put it in the piggy bank and save it."

"Know it." Ye Chengyang ran upstairs like a gust of wind, planning to put the money in the piggy bank.

Ye Chenghu watched eagerly, "I want it too."

Ye Yaodong was happy, so he touched his pocket and gave him 10 cents too, "Don't buy marbles, don't buy little man cards, don't..."

Before Ye Chenghu had even finished listening, he took the money and immediately ran upstairs too.

Ye Xiaoxi was focused on playing with the new doll, looked at the two running past her one after another, looked left and right in bewilderment, and then hurriedly followed them upstairs.

"Don't go upstairs anymore, it's time to eat soon..." Lin Xiuqing shouted toward the stairs, but no one listened to her, and they all ran upstairs.

Ye Fu came over in a while, still wearing the same set of clothes he wore when he came back earlier, and hadn't even changed his rain boots, his face glowing.

Ye Yaodong looked him up and down, "You've been back for a long time, and you're still on the road? Is the old house that far?"

"Villagers on the road saw us back and kept pulling me to talk. Your mother was also talking happily with people on the side, so we stood for a while longer. Who knew more and more people would surround us to talk."

"Mother hasn't come over yet?"

"Soon, right? She's promoting lighters for you, and has already sold several."

"My mother is really material for sales."

"Don't worry about her, she'll naturally come over to eat later. Let's eat first. After eating, we have to go back and rest early. I've been tired all day, and my spirit only relaxed after getting home."

Looking at his father's smiling face, full of joy, he also knew that the second palace visit hadn't been exposed yet and hadn't spread yet.

He thought for a while and simply told his father to let him go and dismiss two of the boat workers on the boat tomorrow, taking advantage of this period of rest to get it done.

Ye Fu, however, felt that bringing this matter up was too embarrassing and a loss of face.

"Simple, just happen to be about the same age as you. You can say it tactfully, saying they are old, and working on the boat without eating or sleeping well is easy to be unable to bear, hurting their bodies. You yourself also obviously feel unable to bear it, let them also go home to farm and retire, no need to go out to sea."

"They're only 50-something, they'll definitely say they can handle it..."

"Whether they can handle it isn't up to them to say. Anyway, just stick to this point and tell them to take care of their bodies. Anyway, try not to tear off this fig leaf and leave some face for others."

After all, at this age, if it spreads that they wanted to steal things from someone's workshop, it wouldn't sound good. This sounds even worse than being caught by the Public Security Bureau for questioning.

At least being called in by public security was just questioning, and it was also being implicated. The reputation of a thief is too ugly.

"Alright then, let's go talk about it tomorrow. It's not very good to go talk about it so urgently today."

"Mm."

"Are you transporting the lighters to the city tomorrow?"

"Yes, anyway, I'm back. Hurry up and transport these goods to the city to sell them early. Let's handle the affairs at home slowly after I come back."

Ye Fu had no opinion. He arranged his own affairs himself. It's just that there is one thing...

He turned to ask Lin Xiuqing, "Over the past month or so, has that Ye Yaohai from the province called? Did he mention the matter of going back to worship the ancestors?"

"I was just thinking about telling Adong after the meal. The filling machine he wanted has a clue. That brother called a month ago and said he could get him two sets of semi-automatic ones, asking him to go over once to talk about it in person. At that time, Adong wasn't home, so I told him it would be around National Day. I didn't expect you to come back until now. He didn't mention the matter of ancestor worship, and there have been no calls recently."

Ye Yaodong was excited and immediately said, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"It was something from over a month ago. I remembered it, but you didn't ask, and I was just thinking about answering your questions just now, so I didn't have time to say it."

"Now this time point is also late. I'll make a call tomorrow to see, and by the way, ask about the matter of returning to the hometown to worship the ancestors. Speaking of which, it's been two months before and after. At that time, the call said it was two months, so it should be about time."

"It's necessary to make a call to ask, so we can be prepared." Ye Fu had always kept the matter of ancestor worship in his heart.

Ye Yaodong thought carefully, and suddenly there were quite a lot of things. Tomorrow, first go to the city. The matter of shipping these lighters must be explained to his father-in-law.

Also, the situation of the land in the city must be checked. His brother-in-law's house should have started building, and he didn't know the progress of that piece of land.

"Then Dad, you solve the matter of the boat workers. I'll definitely be running around in the near future and won't have time to stay at home. It just so happens that the wages for this trip have been settled until today, so those two don't need to work here anymore, and there's no need to pay wages after being dismissed."

"Got it."

"Let's eat first, talk while eating if there's anything." The old lady didn't understand these things, so she could only greet them to eat first.

At this time, Ye Mu also came in from outside in a rush.

As soon as she came in, she stared at Ye Fu.

"I said why you were strange when you came back, looking not quite right. So it turns out something happened again."

The expression on Ye Fu's face immediately became uncomfortable, "What are you saying? Hurry up and eat."

"Why were you caught again? Tell us, you were still hiding it when you came back. What's there to hide? I'll know sooner or later. Knowing from your mouth is better than hearing it from outsiders."

"After hearing about it just now, I was scared to death. I said why you kept not letting me ask, and why you kept changing the topic impatiently when I asked. I thought I was overthinking."

"Hearing what others said was a bit muddled, I didn't understand clearly. You tell us, I won't laugh at you. I'm asking because I care about you."

Ye Fu said unhappily, "It's not a glorious thing, what's there to talk about? It would be better to talk about good things more."

Ye Mu originally spoke nicely, feeling that what she said was quite concerned, but listening to Ye Fu's attitude, she didn't speak so well anymore.

"So, I just heard you keep talking about Chairman Ye's story over and over again, bragging until the cowhide broke. Fortunately, it's not local; otherwise, people in the village would all be looking for you to arrange a small official position."

"That's also because they pulled me to talk..."

"Aren't you also talking very happily and proudly?"

"Aren't you happy? Aren't you proud?"

Ye Mu hummed and admitted generously, "Of course I'm happy, of course I'm proud. My son is so promising. Whoever I walk out with has light on their face. Who doesn't envy me for giving birth to a good son who can earn face for me."

Ye Fu had nothing to refute, so he could only lower his head and eat his meal silently.

But in his heart, he was thinking, how did it spread so fast?

How could those boat workers be so talkative, and not feel ashamed? They actually talked about it as soon as they got home.

He felt that he hadn't done anything against his conscience in his life, plain and honest. Being taken to the police station twice was really a stain on his life, a great humiliation.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Ye Mu's attitude softened again, and she started to comfort him.

"Actually, it's nothing. It's not just you alone. Anyway, so many people went in, and they won't just laugh at you alone. What's more, who dares to laugh at you? Everyone is too envious of you."

"And I heard everyone say that the time inside this time was very short, and it was also implicated by others. Our family has connections, and Dongzi just found someone and was released immediately."

"Doesn't this sound like saving some face? It also shows that our family is powerful. What are you afraid of? There's nothing to tell others, and nothing to be laughed at."

"Anyway, it's not the first time. What should be said has been said before. Who would laugh at people now? It's not like you really went to jail. Like others who have to stay for a few years, it's only a few days."

"You said it last time too, just went in for a stroll. Gain some knowledge. Others want this knowledge but can't get it. People don't even know where the gate of the Public Security Bureau faces..."

Ye Fu had a look of indescribable words. What was said earlier was pleasant to hear, but what was said later?

"Alright, hurry up and eat. If you don't know how to speak, don't speak. Do you think it's a glorious thing? Is there anyone who wants to gain this knowledge?"

"Isn't that what you said? At least others don't have this experience."

"Then do you want it? I'll take you next time."

"I'm too full, I have nowhere to go?"

Ye Yaodong almost couldn't hold it. The two of them were choking again after talking properly.

He tried his best to keep a straight face, "Alright, this is nothing. This time I really went in for a stroll and came out. It wasn't even a few hours. Dad has long been trained. Going to the Public Security Bureau isn't like playing? What can't be talked about? We didn't break the law."

Ye Fu hurriedly echoed, "Right, we didn't break the law, just cooperating with the public security comrades for questioning. What's this?"

"I didn't say anything either. I'm comforting you. Eat a poached egg."

Lin Xiuqing specially fried a few poached eggs in the evening. Ye Mu could be considered to have shown weakness, and gave Ye Fu two at once.

Ye Fu felt happy instantly.

At the same time, Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua returned from the sea and also came over to greet them, so they didn't mention this anymore.

Nearby neighbors also ran over one after another to show concern and ask about the situation in the local area during this period.

A house full of people talking, lively, and the atmosphere was hot.

What everyone asked was basically about him becoming the chairman; it was too rare.

It was only two hours, and before a meal was finished, it had already spread throughout the village.

Everyone thought that he had only gone out once, and every time he had different gains. This time, not only did he earn money, but he also earned an official position, and everyone was envious to death.

Because there were many people coming to show concern, they ate a meal until dark.

After the meal, the neighbors went to the door to cool off, and the old couple, Ye Fu and Ye Mu, also went back together, but it was inevitable that they would quarrel a few times.

Ye Fu told her not to chat with people on the road later and to go back early.

Ye Mu said she had nothing to do, so what's wrong with chatting with people for a few words? It's just cool in the evening, why must she rush home? If he's in a hurry, he can go back first...

The couple walked out while quarreling.

Ye Yaodong actually didn't sleep much all day and was also very tired, but he had been holding on. Since he just came back, it was inevitable that he had to deal with the family talking.

After the meal, he went straight back to the room and lay down, not even seeing his friends who came to the door one after another.

Everyone knew he had already lain down to rest, so they didn't disturb him and went back first. Anyway, he was back, and there would be plenty of time in the future. It would be the same to come over tomorrow.

He slept soundly until the sun was shining on his butt the next morning, and only then did he get up with regret.

He didn't even know that Lin Xiuqing had helped him sell more than 20 lighters, and only heard about it after getting up.

"Our village is quite capable, right? Can sell 20 or so?"

"Hehe, most of them were sold by Mother. Sold last night. Last night, people kept coming to the door to take lighters."

"Amazing. It seems our village isn't that poor. There are quite a few rich ones."

"They are all affordable, it just depends on whether they are willing to spend. This thing is something you men are more willing to spend on."

"Leave a little later to put at home to give to people. You look at which relatives of your mother's family you want to give to. Anyway, I just want to give to a few friends."

"No need. This thing is so expensive, one can sell for 8 yuan, don't give it away everywhere. At most, take one for my second brother. For the eldest brother and my father's side, if you go to the city, just take one for each of them. I don't have anyone else to give to."

Ye Yaodong nodded and didn't say anything.

After eating, he reserved 20 to put at home, and called his younger brother to drive the tractor over to move the rest onto the car.

Just back, he had quite a lot of things, but these lighters must be sent to the city as soon as possible. Only by selling the goods a step early could he go to Fang Jingfu to discuss a step early.

Things at home could be put aside for later, coming one by one.

"Dad, want a rainbow sweater..."

Ye Yaodong just wanted to go out, but his thigh was hugged by Ye Xiaoxi who ran over.

He lowered his head and looked down, "Ask your mother if you want a rainbow sweater, I don't know how to knit sweaters."

"Mother asked me if I want a whip..."

Lin Xiuqing wanted to pull her, but she hugged tightly, and her little butt moved forward twice, afraid that she wouldn't hug tightly enough.

"Don't mess around, your father is going out to do things."

"No, I want Dad."

Ye Yaodong was worried that his pants would be pulled down by her, so he held his waistband tightly.

"Buy, buy, buy, I'll buy it for you when I come back."

Ye Xiaoxi was happy.

"This crazy woman, not only clamoring for a sweater as soon as she gets up in the morning, but also wants to wear a cotton-padded jacket. Now she's even wearing cotton shoes."

Ye Yaodong lowered his head and looked. Sure enough, she was wearing a pair of cotton shoes, but the toes of the shoes were already covered in dirt.

"What are you doing?"

"Good-looking."

"Crazy woman." ===== CHAPTER 1169 =====